Sera’s Arm

Sera’s arm is a symbol of Feroz’s abuse. Though Sera’s arm has healed, she still feels an ache there as though her body has its own memory of the way Feroz treated her. After Feroz died, Bhima once found Sera sitting in a darkened room rubbing her arm and muttering to herself.

Balloon Seller

For Bhima, the balloon seller symbolizes a deeper knowledge of living with loneliness and despair. The balloon seller was a man from Afghanistan who left behind his home country for a life in India. Though Bhima never knew much about him, she always imagined that he knew the secret of how to live with loneliness. However, she had never been brave enough to ask him.

The Seaside

The seaside represents happier times. Feroz often took Bhima to the seaside when they were courting. Later, they took their...